Scroll down to begin your virtual tour of the many places within and around our fair city that provide the settings-and crime scenes-forThe Oakwood Book Club Mysteries.

Enjoy your stay, but remember: Suburbia is Murder, cupcake.

'Frowning, she gazed out and to her left toward the house next door, where a red faced Dr. Paxton Sharpe strode across his front lawn. He climbed into a late model Mercedes, revved the engine, and shot backward out of his driveway at a shallow angle that had the left rear tire striking the curb of the grassy boulevard that bisected their quiet street.

Charley’s frown deepened as Sharpe slammed the car into gear and roared off.

“We’ve got children on this street, jerk face,” she muttered at his dissipating exhaust cloud. “Two of them are yours.”'

--The Advice Column Murders

' 'Shortly after he’d moved home from Chicago, he’d let Paul drag him to a cop’s retirement party in the walnut paneled bar of The Oakwood Club, the local steakhouse. An inebriated Drummond had accosted Marc in the men’s room, a ridiculous and humiliating encounter that had left Marc with a torn shirt and Drummond with his ass soaking in a urinal.'

--The Advice Column Murders

'“They’ve ruled out stroke and heart attack,” he replied dully. “The attending physician thinks it was a seizure. Judith has borderline diabetes, and she’s prone to fainting episodes in situations of extreme stress. She had the boys out at the Boonshoft Museum all morning, so she probably skipped lunch. Hank loves feeding those otters in the Wild Ohio exhibit. Thank God they weren’t home when . . .” His mouth worked. “The girl must’ve already been dead when they . . .”' --The Advice Column Murders

'“Talk about a prime location for a preschool!” Cecilia exclaimed. “Can you imagine?”

Taking up nearly an entire residential city block, Orchardly Park offered pickle ball courts, a wading pool and a picnic shelter. Most of the space, however, was filled with fantastically shaped and brightly colored play equipment. Half a dozen children climbed, swung or slid as young parents looked on from a scattering of tree shaded benches.

--The Advice Column Murders

'Katie disappeared as she turned her cellphone. Charley saw a blur of trees, grass and asphalt. Then the image refocused, and she found herself looking at a squad car with its light bar flashing blue and red. Behind it was an unmarked police issue sedan she recognized as Marc’s usual work ride. Both vehicles were parked in front of a small building covered with weathered brown shingles. A sign in the yard readThe Oakwood Register.

The image blurred again, and Katie’s face, pale and tense, reappeared. “The cops kicked me out, but I heard one of them say the office was ransacked last night.”'

--The Advice Column Murders

'“We were at the Carillon Brewery, and we saw this couple having a massive fight. It was something to do with the woman’s mother. The guy kept putting his foot in his mouth, and finally the woman told him to go to hell, that their engagement was off. "

Trent took up the tale. "When she literally threw a ring in his face and stormed out, and the guy started sobbing into his ale, Ann Landers over here began coming up with all the things the poor bastard should’ve said.” He sent Dmitri a swift smile. “Really funny, but brilliant, too. Hell, even I would’ve forgiven that idiot.”'

--The Advice Column Murders

'“Interesting place you’ve got here.” Marc gazed up at the peaked ceiling with its exposed beams and mullioned dormer windows. The room was crammed with overstuffed furniture covered in silks and velvets in a riot of colors. Heavy maroon drapes trimmed with gold brocade covered the tall windows. The polished wood floors were heaped with Persian rugs. Piecrust tables held crystal and cloisonné lamps topped with fringed silk shades. Every inch of wall space displayed ornately framed oil paintings, original lithographs, and colorful tribal masks from Africa, Australia and South America.

“This condo literally saved my life. When my folks kicked me out, Great Aunt Athena took me in, or I’d have ended up homeless like a lot of kids.” Dmitri gazed around the room, his dark eyes misting with tears. “It looks like a Singapore whorehouse, but I haven’t had the heart to redecorate.”' --The Advice Column Murders

'Charley walked over and perched on the low wall of landscaping timbers that enclosed the sandbox and provided seating for children and their minders. A young father sat nearby, trying to keep a toddler from putting the sandy contents of a plastic teacup into her mouth. Children shrieked and laughed as they scrambled over the complex of climbing equipment nearby. Massive oak and ash trees provided shade as they swayed in the soft spring breeze, flinging bright coins of sunlight across the park with delicious abandon. When school let out in a few hours, the ball diamond and wide green lawn would be packed with older kids, tossing Frisbees and shagging fly balls. But for now, the preschool crowd ruled.' --The Advice Column Murders

‘Her phone chimed. She tapped the incoming photo to enlarge it, and clucked in satisfaction. “That’s him. Brandon’s at Bell, Book and Comic on Patterson. They’ve got a private room in the back for table top gaming. Brandon bought his way in with a baggie of weed. Loser. Now they’re—”

As she scrolled through more photos and read the accompanying text from her Irregular, her heart sank. “Oh, crap. Marc, there’re at least six people back there playing World of Warcraft. It’s a long, narrow store. There’s a delivery door in back that stays locked. If Brandon’s armed, he could barricade himself in. We could have a hostage situation.”’ --The Advice Column Murders

Oakwood is crisscrossed with alleys and easements running behind homes built in the early 20th century, when everyone either walked or rode electric streetcars, and driveways and garages were considered a necessity only by the very wealthy.

'“Police! Freeze!” Mitch fired again, but the man was already out of range, sprinting toward an alley that ran perpendicular to Magnolia and formed one side of the Peache's eastern neighbor’s property. He knew it was filled with garage doors, overgrown shrubs, a dozen hiding places and points of escape into a dozen properties along two different parallel streets.'

--The Antique House Murders

'Charley glimpsed a rolling green fairway on her left just before Sean steered the Honda through another pillared entrance.

“The Dayton Country Club?” she asked in surprise. “How can you afford a membership here?”

“Funny story.” Sean followed the long drive past a swimming pool and tennis courts, both closed for the season. The clubhouse appeared, a graceful white stucco building with an orange tiled roof and high arched windows overlooking the golf course.'

--The Antique House Murders

Established by Carlton and Jeanette Smith in the 1930’s, Smith Gardens is a half acre gem operated by the Oakwood Parks Department and maintained by the Friends of Smith Gardens.

'“One shoplifter, delivered as promised.” Sean trotted up, both hands clamped firmly on a teenage boy in a blue sweatshirt. “Little bastard got all the way to Smith Gardens before I caught him. You’re paying for my dry cleaning, buddy. Just so you know.”' --The Antique House Murders

Runnymede Road, a long and winding street that curves through exclusive west Oakwood, is paved with bricks hand laid by German artisans over a century ago.

'The most valuable land, and the biggest mansions, were secreted deep along this secluded miniature valley floor. The twists and turns, lack of striping or sidewalks, and generally poor level of street lighting discouraged casual traffic, both foot and vehicular, a state of affairs that was, of course, just how the residents over here liked it.'

--The Antique House Murders

Mack Hummon Stadium has been home to the Oakwood Lumberjacks' football, track and field contests since the 1950's. It is the uncredited site of the final, epic, contest.

"I think we all know that's a lie. My condo at Oakwood Manor's got two extra bedrooms, and you can't afford your own place on part-time money if you're paying tuition--" He was almost knocked to the ground by the exuberance of his sister's hug.

"I'll be the perfect roommate! You'll never even know I'm there."

He held her tightly, and Charley's heart broke a little for her friend. Dmitri put up a good front, but she knew how lonely he truly was.'

--The Antique House Murders

Culvert running under Patterson Road. Crime Scene #1 from The Book Club Murders.

'Dripping with moisture and just under seven feet, the culvert opening was barely tall enough to allow Marc to stand. The smell of decomposing garbage and stagnant water oozed from the damp walls like foul breath from a monstrous, gaping mouth.'

--The Book Club Murders

Oakwood High School, Est. 1924. Crime Scene #3 from The Book Club Murders.

"It's like Hogwarts in there."

--The Book Club Murders

Oakwood Community Center. Crime Scene #2 from The Book Club Murders.

'Marc consulted his notes. "Lisa was the last staffer present at the Oakwood Community Center the night of Wilson’s party."

--The Book Club Murders

Former train tracks-now creepy running trail and access to Crime Scene #1 from The Book Club Murders.

"I will never, never, ever run down here again, my solemn oath. Can we go?" Frankie shivered. "All this nature is giving me the creeps.”

--The Book Club Murders

'Taking up almost the entire block on her left sprawled the French provincial masterpiece that was the Oakwood Safety Building, housing the integrated EMT, Fire and Police Departments.

Oh, and the Detective Section was in there somewhere, too. Charley glared at the historic structure, then turned her back.'

--The Book Club Murders

'The right hand side of The Shops of Park Avenue district was home to a dozen small businesses, occupying a series of converted houses and mismatched retail buildings. While most of them were still closed, windows dark, Ashley’s Bakery opened at seven and was already jammed with customers.'

--The Antique House Murders

Charley sat up. "Lindy told me Serena was meeting someone last night. 'Drinks at Carmel's at eight.' What if she went there to meet a private eye?"